The DOJ has authorized the acquisition of Hawaiian Airways by Alaska Airways. The Division of Transport nonetheless must approve the acquisition however many individuals smarter than myself have acknowledged that the DOJ approval was the main stumbling block after the DOJ had beforehand blocked JetBlue from buying Dash.
Some readers have reached out to ask if it is smart to use for Hawaiian airline playing cards/switch miles to Hawaiian forward of the acquisition within the hopes that these turn out to be (the extra useful to them) Alaska miles. I see three potential choices:
- Applications mix
- Miles switch to Alaska airline miles at a fee of 1:1
- Miles switch to Alaska airline miles at a fee WORSE than 1:1
- DoT blocks the merger, Hawaiian airways miles stay the identical as they at present are
Alaska Airways has already confirmed that the airways could have a shared loyalty program however that the 2 completely different airline manufacturers will stay. Presently American Categorical can also be providing a 20% bonus to Hawaiian airways by 8/31 and Barclays has a 70,000 level bonus (Barclays and Hawaiian additionally lately renewed their partnership).
My private feeling is that if the acquisition is authorized the miles will switch at a fee of 1:1 as whereas Alaska miles are typically thought of extra useful it’s not a ridiculous distinction of say 1:2 and the goodwill earned by the 1:1 fee vs say a 1:0.8 is price it. In case you do discover Alaska Airline miles useful I believe that transferring factors particularly could make sense because of the present switch bonus however clearly there’s a non zero threat that this goes poorly and also you’re caught with Hawaiian miles or a nasty conversion fee.
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